Thermo-electric signal.



No. 783,141. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

M. J. SGHIGK.

THERMO ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1904,

2 SHBETSr-BHEET l.

W1 ESSES':

No. 783,141. PATENTED PEB.21,1 905.

M. J. SGHIGK. THERMO ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1904.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

9"Ffim gym-259M UNITED STATES Patented l'ebruary 21, 1905.

PATENT THERMO-ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,141, dated February 21, 1905.

I Application filed .pril 21, 1904. Serial-No. 204,228.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN J. SoHroK, a citizen of the United States of America,and a resident of Bellaire, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermo-Electric Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in thermo -electric signals, and more particularly to an adjustable apparatus for giving notice or announcing changes of temperature; and it consistsin the particular construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will hereinafter be fully described.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a signal system for automatically announcing a rise or fall of temperature in a room or building.

A further object is to provide an adjustable apparatus affected by changes of temperature which will automatically give notice of a rise or fall of temperature in a building and which is therefore particularly adapted for a fire alarm or signal and for use in hothouses, greenhouses, and other places for which an even temperature is desired.

In describing theinvention in detail reference is herein had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus showing the systemof wiring and the electrical connection. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a contact-making plug. Fig. 4: is a cross-section of the same on the line 1 4, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the invention, illustrating a modification therein.

Referring to said drawings,in which like reference-numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a plate or block in which is mounted an ordinary thermometer consisting of a bulb 2 and integral tube 3. A graduated scale is provided on said block, and the bulb 2 and tube 3 contain mercury, as in the ordinary thermometer. Ends of wires 4, preferably of platinum, because mercury has no deteriorating effect thereon, are inserted in the tube 3 when the said tube erably in a line parallel is molded, and the end of a wire 5, preferably of the same material, is in like manner inserted either in the bulb 2 or in the lower end of the tube 3. In the plate or block 1, prefto said tube 3, is a plurality of sockets 6, each of which has fixed therein, on the side next the tube 3, a semicylindrical copper casing. The wires 4 preferably extend from the tube 3 horizontally across the block 1 in a shallow groove 8 and are connected at their outer ends with said casings 7. A copper plate or strip is extended along the outer edge of the sockets 6 from the lower of said sockets to a predetermined point, preferably for ordinary purposes to the socket which stands opposite the mark. A second plate or strip 10 is in like manner extended from the socket next above to the upper of said line of sockets or to a binding post therebeyond. A binding-post 11 is connected with the strip 9 and a binding-post 12 is connected with the strip 10, as shown. The outer end of the wire 5 is also connected with a binding-post 13. A current-conducting wire 14 connects the binding-post 13 with a battery or source of electrical energy 15, while a wire 16 connects the binding-post 11 with a relay 17, which in turn is connected by a wire 18 with said source of energy 15. Contact-making plugs 19, having rounded faces for engagement with the casings 7 and fiat faces for engagement with the copper strips, are provided for fitting within the sockets 6 for making a contact between the wires i and the strips. A circuit to an annunciator 22 is completed by wires 20 and 21, connected with said relay 17. Since the mercury in the tube 3 is a conductor of electrical energy, a closed circuit is had through the connections just described so long as the mercury does not fall below the wire 1, with which the circuit is completed through the plug 19. However, immediately an open circuit is created by the falling of the mercury in the tube the signal is rung on the annunciator 22, which in practice may be located at any desired point. Since a closed circuit is desired for indicating a rise of temperature, a second circuit, normally open, is provided through a wire 23, connecting the binding-post 12 with the annunciator 22 and the wires 21 and 18, source of energy 15, and wire l high in the tube and when the light goes out 14, said wires 21 and 18'being connected by a wire 24, as shown. When the mercury rises in the tube 3 until it reaches the wire 4, completing the circuit through the plug 19, the signal is rung on the annunciator 22.

In practice my invention operates substantially as follows: When an even temperature of, say, 7 is desired in a room with no greater range than 20 a plug 19 is inserted in the socket 6, which is connected with the tube at the 60 mark, thus making a contact between the strip 9 and the wire 4, which enters the tube at the 60 mark, creating a closed circuit to the annunciator through the relay, and a second plug is inserted in the socket, which is connected with the tube at the 80 mark, thus makinga contact between the strip 10 and the wire 4, which enters the tube at the 80 mark, creating a circuit to the annunciator, which is open until the mercury rises to said 80 mark, closing it. When the temperature varies so as to cause the mercury to fall below the mark, creating an open circuit, or to rise to creating a closed circuit, the annunciator is set ringing, said circuits being created through the wiring connections herein before mentioned.

As is apparent, by providing a greater number of sockets connected by wires with the tube 3 the apparatus may be set to announce any range of temperature desired.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings the wires 4 for indicating a low temperature are connected with contact-points 25 on a point-switch 26, the lever-pivot 27 of which is connected with the binding-post 11. To set the device for indicating a fall of temperature below a certain point, the lever 28 is moved to the point25, which is connected by wire 4: with said certain point in the tube 3. A similar point-switch 29 has the wires 4 for indicating a high temperature connected with the contact-points 30 thereon and has its lever-pivot or connector 32 connected with the binding-post 12. This switch is operated to set the apparatus for indicating the rise of temperature in the same manner as the switch 26.

As is obvious, a second battery or source of energy 31 may, if desired, be provided between the annunciator and the relay, as shown.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my invention is adapted for a variety of purposes, among which may be mentioned the following: for greenhouse and hospital use, where an even temperature is desired; for a fire-alarm in rooms or buildings, where a high temperature will cause it to signal an alarm; for a signal for mine use in places where a light is kept burning to indicate the absence of minegas, and for indicating of railway signallights. In the last two cases the tube containing the mercury is placed in close proximity to the light, so that while burning the heat from the light will hold the mercury the mercury falls,so as to open the closed cir' cuit, thus causing an alarm to be given.

I have described my invention more or less in detail; but it is obvious that various slight changes and alterations may be made in the construction and in the arrangement of parts composing the invention without departing from the general spirit or scope thereof. Hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Lettters Patent, is

1. In a thermo-electric signal, a thermometer-bulb and single tube of an ordinary type containing mercury, platinum wires extended through the sides of said tube, a normally closed electric circuit connected with said tube through said wires, means whereby said circuit is normally held closed through the mercury in the tube, a second electric circuit, normally open, connected with said tube, means whereby the second circuit is rendered closable through said mercury, a relay on the first-mentioned circuit, and an annunciator or alarm-bell on both circuits, substantially as described.

2. In a thermo-electrical signal, a single variable column for conducting electric currents, a series of wires stationed at different positions to be successivelycontacted or disengaged by the column, according to the direction of its movement, a normally closed circuit in which some of the conductors are included, a normally open circuit in which another series of conductors are included, means for controlling the circuits through the columns and for changing the relation of the circuits to the column, a suitable signaling device in the circuits, and means for energizing the circuits.

3. In a thermo-electric'signal, a single variable column for conducting electric currents, conductors stationed in the path of travel of the column, switches for dividing the conductors into two groups, means for connecting a conductor of one group in a normally closed circuit, means for connecting a conductor of the other series in a normally open circuit, a signaling device in the circuits, sources of electricity for the circuits and means for controlling the circuits to the signaling device.

4. In a thermo-electric signal, a single upright variable column for conducting electricity, the said column varying in length according to its expansion and contraction with the application of heat or the reduction of temperature, conductors stationed at different positions to be successively contacted or disen- IIO gaged by the column, a conductor leading to a fixed portion of the column, means for controlling the circuit through the first-mentioned conductors, the said conductors being divided into two groups, means for controlling the circuits according to the movement of the column, a signaling device in the circuits, a relay, means for establishing electrical connection between the relay and the circuits, whereby the said relay controls the signaling device, and a source of electricity common to the relay and the signaling device.

5. In a thermo-electric signal, a column varying in length according to the changes in temperature, the said column being capable of conducting electricity, conductors in the path of travel of the column, a conductor connected to the unchanging portion of the column whereby the path of travel for a current is uninterrupted, switches for the first-named conductors whereby the said conductors are divided into groups, normally closed and normally opened circuits for the groups, one of said groups being in the normally closed circuit and the other group in the normally open circuit, means for establishing. a circuit through one conductor of each group, a signaling device in the circuits, a relay for controlling the circuits to the signaling device, sources of electricity for the circuits and a normally open circuit for the signaling device controlled by the relay.

Signed by me in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN J. SCHICK. Witnesses:

H. E. DUNLAP, ELBERT' MITCHELL. 

